https://arab.news/vgemq
- Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper describes action as ‘reckless and appalling’
LONDON: The UK government on Tuesday strongly condemned Israel over its latest military offensive in Gaza, as the Israel Defense Forces began a ground assault on Gaza City.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the action as “reckless and appalling,” warning that it would escalate bloodshed and endanger civilians.
In a posting on X, Cooper said: “The new IDF assault on Gaza is utterly reckless and appalling. It will only bring more bloodshed, kill more innocent civilians and endanger the remaining hostages. We need an immediate ceasefire, all hostages released, unrestricted humanitarian aid and a path to lasting peace.”
Residents of Gaza City who remain in the area have been urged to move south as the IDF advances. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said in response to the overnight strikes targeting the city: “Gaza is burning.”
The British Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer also called for an end to the offensive, saying: “This action must be stopped. The expansion of military operations will only take away hope for the hostages and promise yet more misery for Gazans who have suffered so much.”
The escalation comes as a team of independent experts commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, sharply condemned the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
While Downing Street acknowledged the humanitarian crisis, it maintained that legal rulings on genocide must be made by the courts.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said Israel’s actions were creating an “unbearable humanitarian catastrophe,” but added: “As for legal judgments, we’ve always said that any formal determination is up to international courts.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch emphasized the urgency of returning hostages, telling the PA News Agency: “This war will end when the hostages are returned, and we just need to get the hostages home as quickly as possible.”